Date: Tue 09 Apr 2013

Barry Town Legends inducted into Hall of Fame

Barry Town legends, the late Mark Ovendale and his former manager Gary Barnett are the latest inductees into the Welsh Premier League Hall of Fame.

Mark Ovendale

The late Mark Ovendale

The late Mark Ovendale, goalkeeper in Barry Town's all-conquering team, is the next member of the Hall of Fame.

Despite only spending three years with Barry Town, Ovendale had a significant impact on the club.

Hailing from Leicester, Ovendale played half a dozen matches for Northampton before signing for Barry in 1995, becoming a key member of the team that won three consecutive league championships, as well the Welsh Cup in 1997.

While playing for Barry, Ovendale went without conceding a goal in the league for over a thousand minutes, a record that still stands today.

He went on to represent Bournemouth and Luton in the Football League, but in August 2011 Ovendale lost his battle with cancer and passed away, aged only thirty seven years old.

Gary Barnett

Gary Barnett at his former home of Jenner Park on Sunday

Gary Barnett, Barry Town's successful player-manager, is the next inductee to the Welsh Premier League's Hall of Fame.

Although only five foot six inches in height, the midfielder joined Barry in 1996 after gaining rich experience in the English leagues with Oxford United, Fulham, Huddersfield and Leyton Orient.

Barnett was a key member of Barry's first title-winning side in 1995/96 and after being appointed player-manager in 1996, the success continuted at Jenner Park.

He won another three league Championships with Barry - four consecutive titles in all - and five cups, as well as playing in many memborable European ties.

Barnett played over 130 games for Barry, scoring many important goals for the club and Welsh football fans will surely remember that Barnett's time with Barry was the club's golden age.